Cuestiones éticas en los servicios sociales en España: un estudio de caso

Abstract

Social services promote the well-being of individuals and communities while empowering the autonomy of service users. This article presents a case study on ethical issues in a public social services organization in Spain, based on qualitative questionnaires filled out by professionals working in these services. The study first details how the ethics of social services should support the resolution of ethical dilemmas, such as respect for self-determination and the pursuit of well-being, conflicts between individual and professional values, and dilemmas arising from the limitations of resources. Additionally, it also explains some issues related to ethical decision-making in areas such as access to resources and respect for autonomy. Finally, proposals for improving the ethical quality of care are presented, such as increased ethics training and the establishment of committees and spaces for ethical reflection.

Keywords

• ethical conflicts
• social intervention
• social services
• Spain